Standard scores for semiconductor, AI, and automation industries "explode
In this year's enrollment season, AI, semiconductor and STEM majors continued to increase in scores, with many majors rising to the leading group.
At the University of Information Technology (UIT), Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, the Artificial Intelligence major achieved 100/100 points, equivalent to 30/30 after conversion, for the first time the school has a major with a perfect score. The majors of Data Science, Microchip Design, Information Security and Computer Science also have equivalent scores from 26.55/30 or higher.
At the University of Science and Technology, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, the benchmark scores for most majors increased compared to the previous year. Notably, the Semiconductor Engineering major achieved 85.8/100 points right in the first year of enrollment. Many other technology and engineering majors such as Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical - Electronics - Telecommunications, Automation and Microchip Design all achieved from 80/100 points.
This trend is also reflected at Hanoi University of Science and Technology, when the STEM group has many programs belonging to the highest benchmark group. The field of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, an advanced program, leads with 29.54 points; the fields of Computer Science and Digital Space Security, advanced programs, also above 29 points.
In some other schools, technology and engineering majors continue to record high or strongly increased benchmark scores. Vietnam Aviation Academy has many STEM majors increasing by 4-6 points; Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Technology recorded the majors of Control and Automation, Mechatronics, and Microchip Design in the leading group.
Thus, the benchmark scores for training programs this year generally increased compared to 2025, notably the STEM industry group.
Prof. Dr. Nguyen Dinh Duc - Vietnam National University, Hanoi - said that the above trend is due to the impact of the Government's scholarship policy for some science, technology, engineering and mathematics majors, and also reflects the increasing demand of the labor market for human resources in these fields.
Specifically, according to Decree No. 179/2026/ND-CP, eligible students in basic science, key engineering and strategic technology majors will receive scholarships of 3.7-5.5 million VND/month. The Ministry of Education and Training estimates that about 30,000-32,000 new students in 111 STEM majors are in this category.
Military school block: Differentiated benchmark scores, highest 29.76/30 points
This year, the military school block (including 18 academies and officer schools) continues to maintain a high benchmark score. In which, the highest benchmark score belongs to female candidates registering for admission to the Military Medical Academy and the English language major at the Military Science Academy with a score of 29.76/30 points.
However, the benchmark scores for military schools have a clear differentiation between regions, male and female subjects as well as each training major with the lowest announced score of 21.5 points. The admission scores of candidates in the Northern region are always higher than the Southern region. The admission scores for female candidates at schools recruiting female students are all at a high threshold, above 27 points.
Typically, at the Military Technical Academy, the admission score of male candidates in the North is 27.61 points, nearly 1 point higher than in the South (26.62 points). At the Academy of Logistics, this gap is up to 1.32 points.
Pedagogy is still a "hot" major
As of the afternoon of August 10, the 2 largest pedagogical schools in the country, Hanoi National University of Education and Ho Chi Minh City University of Education, have not announced benchmark scores. However, in some other pedagogical schools, schools that train pedagogy majors, benchmark scores are still maintained at the top.
For example, at the University of Education, Da Nang University, Mathematics Pedagogy leads with 26.93 points according to the method of considering high school graduation exam results and transcripts. With methods combining competency assessment exam results, the highest level is Physics Pedagogy with 26.18 points, using the competency assessment results of Hanoi University of Education and Chemistry Pedagogy with 26 points, using the competency assessment results of Ho Chi Minh City University of Education.
At the University of Education, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, all 10 teacher training majors have benchmark scores above 25 points. Mathematics Pedagogy leads with 27.55 points; 5 majors have benchmark scores above 27 points.
Mathematics Pedagogy also ranked first at Thai Nguyen University and University of Pedagogy, Hue University, with 27.13 and 25.65 points respectively.
In 2025, the highest benchmark score at Hanoi National University of Education is 29.06 points in History Pedagogy; at Ho Chi Minh City National University of Education is 29.38 points in Chemistry Pedagogy. Hanoi National University of Education 2 has the highest benchmark score of 28.52 points.
This year, the group of Pedagogy majors continues to maintain high scores, showing the attractiveness of teacher training majors, especially in the context of the increasingly concerned need for a team of teachers with expertise and technological capacity.
Standard scores for Journalism major sharply decrease
At the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, the benchmark score for Journalism in 2026 decreased sharply to 22 points in all combinations, while in previous years it always belonged to the group of majors with high benchmark scores of the school. A similar trend appeared at the Academy of Journalism and Propaganda when most journalism majors decreased by 3 points or more on a scale of 40; especially Journalism Photography major decreased by 6 points.
